Obituaries

FAYETTEVILLE — Leonard Ray (Jim) Spillars, 85, of Fayetteville, passed from this life on April 6, 2018, at Willard Walker Hospice, after a short illness. He was born on Oct. 4, 1932, to John Mark and Pearl Ester Johnson Spillars in the Buckner community.

He was a lifelong resident of the Fayetteville area, and was a member of Baldwin Baptist Church. He attended school in the Buckner, Baldwin, and Combs Chapel areas. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. After returning from the service, he worked as a cross-country truck driver and in the construction industry until his retirement. He was also an avid musician and guitar player.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Hilda Jean Gardner Spillars; his parents; and six siblings, Gladys, Paul, Euell, Willard, Johnnie, and Dorothy, and their spouses.

He is survived by son, Jim of Fayetteville; granddaughters, Sara Yeager and husband, Mitch, Jamie and Jacquelyn; grandson, Jacob, all of Fayetteville, and by exdaughter-in-law and caregiver, Lynnette Fennell, also of Fayetteville.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Beard’s Funeral Chapel in Fayetteville.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, April 12, 2018, also at Beard’s. Interment to follow at Buckner Cemetery in Fayetteville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in care of the Washington County Historical Society Heritage School, 118 E. Dickson St, Fayetteville, Ark., 72701, or the Southern Memorial Association, 2007 West Huntsville, Springdale, Ark., 72762.

The family would like to express appreciation to the staff of the Fayetteville Veterans Home, Washington Regional Medical Center, and the Willard Walker Hospice Home, for the exceptional care of Jim in his final days.

Condolences at www. beardsfuneralchapel.com.

HOLIDAY ISLAND — Harriet Virginia Whiting, age 98, passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at Circle of Life Hospice Home in Springdale, Ark. She was born on Feb. 17, 1920, to Joseph Samuel Dooty and Edna Mura McIntosh Dooty in Melvern, Kan.

She grew up in Melvern and graduated valedictorian in 1937 from Melvern High School.

She wanted to follow her sister in nursing school but was too young. She received a scholarship from the College of Emporia, and was hired that summer to work in the office at Newman Memorial Hospital and lived in the nurses’ quarters. In the fall, a position opened up in the Nursing School. She was allowed to enter by waiving the age restriction of 18. When she graduated from Nursing School, she was too young to take the State Boards and had to remain at the hospital as a student nurse until she turned 21. Nursing assignments took her to Kansas City, Kan., and St. Peter, Minn. After she became an RN, she and a fellow nursing student moved to the Hines VA in Chicago, Ill., to begin their nursing careers.

Harriet continued working as a psychiatric nurse at the VA hospital in Topeka, Kan., for many years. She met her husband John (Jack) Campbell Whiting in Topeka. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary shortly before his death. During their marriage they lived in Topeka, Kan.; Norman, Okla.; Midwest City, Okla.; Kettering, Ohio; and then returned to Topeka.

After retirement, they moved to Stockton, Mo., to sail on Stockton Lake in their sailboat, Aegina. They sailed for several years with all of their grandchildren and enjoyed their retirement. They also traveled the world and went on 16 cruises, including rafting on the Amazon River and touring New Zealand for a month. They were active members of the Stockton Methodist Church. They later moved to Elfindale Retirement Community in Springfield, Mo., where they were members of the Southminster Presbyterian Church. They lived there until Jack’s death in 2009.

Harriet then moved to Peachtree Retirement Village in Holiday Island, Ark., to be near her daughter. After suffering a heart attack, she moved to Green Acres Lodge in Holiday Island and was well taken care of by the wonderful staff, especially GiGi, who was her nurse, and became a dear friend. In her last year at Green Acres, she enjoyed extra help from the caretakers of the We Care Company.

Harriet is preceded in death by her parents; sister Mercedes Rice, brother Cedric Dooty, husband John Campbell Whiting II, son John Campbell Whiting III, granddaughter Juli Mackey Brown and grandson Justin Blenden.

She is survived by her sister, Georgia Ree Tribble of Topeka, Kan.; daughter Judith Higginbottom (Marvin), of Holiday Island, Ark.; daughter Jolene Whiting (Bob) of Chicago, Ill.; daughter Jay Patterson(Denny) of La Veta, Colo., and stepdaughter Gillette Ransom of Elkhart, Ind.; grandchildren Forrest Danson (Deb); Deborah Modica (Joe): Christopher Danson (Catherine); Marjorie Hignite (Mike); John Mackey (Leslie); Billie Blenden; Karl Kreipe; Doug Brown; and Joe Whiting; great-grandchildren Jackson, Mary Emma, John Paul, Cooper, Mallory, Sutton, Jonathan, Lacey, Cade, Kyler, Elliott, Sarah, Julia, Joey and Anna; nephews Karl (CeCy) and Chuck; nieces Diane, Nancy and Dona; and dear friends Chuck and Sally Moffett and Merrill Mauk.

Donations may be made to Circle of Life Hospice Home, 109 S. Jones in Springdale, Ark. The entire family is grateful to them for the wonderful care we all received in her last days.

A celebration of her life will be held in Melvern, Kan., on July 14.

Please visit Harriet’s memorial page at www.Westfield Chapel.com.

HUNTSVILLE — Betty Sue (Byford) Phillips, 56, of Huntsville, Ark., passed away April 8, 2018, in Fayetteville. She was born May 9, 1961, in Huntsville, Ark., to Charlie Cleo and Lena Bell (Stanberry) Byford.

She was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charlie Cleo Byford and Lena Bell (Stanberry) Byford; a daughter, Melinda Sue Phillips; a brother, Terry Lee Byford; and a sister, Judy Johnson.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, John Phillips; a son, John Arthur Phillips; brothers, Bobby, Johnny, Darren, Tommy, Robert, David, Quency, Quinton and Lonnie Byford; grandchildren, Brandon Lee Tenney, Phillip Gene Long, and Betty Sue Phillips.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018, at Westfield Chapel Funeral Home in Springdale, Ark. Please visit her online memorial at www.Westfield Chapel.com.

HOT SPRINGS — Dr. Joe Luther, 91, of Hot Springs, passed away April 4, 2018. He was born Oct. 29, 1926, in Mountain View, to Thurlow and Seddie Luther.

Joe is predeceased by his parents; wife Ava Nell Luther; brothers Letus Luther and Bob Luther.

Joe grew up in Mountain View and attended the University of Arkansas and Baylor Dental School. He practiced dentistry in Waldron, Helena, Mount Ida and Charleston, Ark.

In 1947 Joe married Ava Nell Logan and they had 63 happy years of marriage. Throughout, they shared a love of family and together enjoyed playing bridge, golfing and attending the horse races at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

Joe and his family spent over 30 years in Charleston, Ark. He and Ava Nell retired to Hot Springs in 1998. Over the years, they retained many friends from their towns of residence and enjoyed a lively social life.

Joe is survived by his three children, Anna Paxton (Mark), of Baton Rouge, La.; Greg Luther (DeeDee), of Fayetteville; and Thad Luther (Lynn), of Little Rock; grandchildren, Bob and Todd Smoot, Justin, Josh and Mitchell Luther and Christene Paxton; and seven great-grandchildren. The family would like to give thanks and recognition to loyal caregivers Tammy Dodd and Marjorie Maughan, with gratitude for their years of service.

Visitation will be 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home. A celebration of Joe’s life will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Pleasant Grove. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice. Guest register is www.caruth-hale.com.

ROGERS — Ray Lindsey Epps, 79, of Rogers, died April 8 at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville. He was born Dec. 16, 1938, in Rogers to Lenza Orbin Epps and Elvenia V. Weiser Epps.

He was a Navy veteran serving in Norfolk, Va. He worked as a machinist for CTS in Rogers, and married Glenna Faye Patterson on July 3, 1981. Ray loved to work on the farm, deer hunt and fish.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sisterin-law, Jean Ann Epps.

Survivors are his wife Glenna Epps of the home; two sons, Mike Epps (Marylou) of Jacksonville, Fla., Stan Epps of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two daughters, Nancy Rouse (Andy) of Milageville, Ga., Carol Stkles (Steve) of Odom, Ga.; a brother, Clyde Epps of Rogers; 15 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

Graveside service is set for 1 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at Roller Cemetery in Missouri. Arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at siscofuneral home.net.

ROGERS — Ralph Andrew Goff, 90, died at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville, Ark., on Sunday, April 8, 2018. He was born May 4, 1927, in Savanna, Okla., the youngest of eight children of James and Dora Goff.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and five sisters.

Ralph was a World War II veteran. Following graduation from high school in Seminole, Okla., in 1944, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army with the 78th Infantry Division during the occupation of Berlin, Germany. Following his discharge in 1946, he graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Seminary.

While pursuing his education he was the pastor of several small churches, and the founding pastor of Ideal Street Baptist Church in Seminole. In 1954, he received his commission, returning to the Army as a chaplain. During his military career he served a tour in Okinawa and two tours in Germany. He was an airborne chaplain with the 82nd Airborne Division, the 503rd Airborne Battle Group, and the 101st Airborne Division. After a tour in Vietnam, he served as the post chaplain at Fort McClellan, Ala.

After retiring from active duty, Ralph served on the pastoral staff of University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ark., and First Southern Baptist Church of Prescott, Ariz.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; five children, Deborah Wainscott of West Fork, Ark., Susan Gabbard of Rogers, Ark., Timothy Goff and wife Wendy of St. Louis, Mo., Matthew Goff and wife Amy of Springdale, Ark., and Philip Goff and wife Jan of Siloam Springs, Ark. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Viewing and visitation will be held at Fellowship Bible Church, Rogers, Ark., on Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the same location on Wednesday, April 11, beginning at 11 a.m, under the direction of Pastor Robert Cupp. Burial will be at the Fayetteville National Cemetery at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Samaritan Community Center, 1211 W. Hudson Road, Rogers, Ark., 72756.

ROGERS — Constance L. Vermeulen, 81, of Urbandale, formerly of Rogers, Ark., passed away April 5, 2018. Graveside service will be held at 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines, Iowa.

She was born Sept. 3, 1936, in Montclair, N.J., to Donald V. and Mary L. Holt. Connie will be greatly missed by her family and many friends in both Rogers, Ark., where she and Mo enjoyed 18 years of retired life and in Urbandale, Iowa, where she resided the past two years with Janelle and John.

She is survived by her children Steven Vermeulen (Melody) of Cary, N.C.; Janelle Ballard (John), Urbandale, Iowa; and Brenda Cole, Des Moines, Iowa. Also surviving are five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Connie was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Morris (Mo) C. Vermeulen and her daughter, Kerry Lee Kreider.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Heart Association.

SILOAM SPRINGS —

Grace Alberta Burgess, 89, of Siloam Springs, passed away April 7, 2018. She had moved in 2015 to Siloam Springs from the Boston, Mass., area to be near family. Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home, 3800 W. Walnut, Rogers.

SPRINGDALE — Wanda Lee Stueart, 87, of Springdale, went to be with the Lord on April 9, 2018. She was born on April 14, 1930, In Oklahoma City, Okla., the daughter of Robert and Myrtle Walker Morris.

She was a member of the Sonora Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Loyd Stueart, and one son, David Loyd Stueart.

She is survived by her children, Harold Lee Stueart of Siloam Springs, Ark., James Loren Stueart of Springdale, Ark., and Judy Lynn Bills and husband Spencer of Siloam Springs, Ark.; 17 grandchildren; and numerous greatand great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, from 4-6 p.m., in the chapel of Memorial Funeral Home, 3926 Willowood Avenue, Springdale, Ark., 72762. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Sonora Cemetery in Sonora, Ark., with Reverend Danny Williams officiating.

Online condolences may be made to www.memorial fhspringdale.com.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Jonathan Thomas Smart, 24 of Phoenix, Ariz., died Tuesday, April 3, 2018, in Phoenix. He was born Feb.y 18, 1994, in Hanford, Calif., to son of Gilbert James Smart and Mari Elliott.

He was attending M.M.I. School in Phoenix, Ariz., and also served four years in the U.S. Navy.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Patricia Ann Elliott.

Survivors include his parents, Gilbert and Mari Smart of Springdale; brother, Christopher J. Smart of Springdale; maternal grandfather, Reverend Robert J. Elliott, Sr. of Modesto, Calif.; paternal grandmother, Delores Dunlap of Lompoc, Calif.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Memorial Funeral Home, 3926 Willowood Ave, Springdale, Ark. Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at the chapel of Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will be 1 p.m. in Fayetteville National Cemetery.

To send the family condolences, please visit www. memorialfhspringdale.com.